Friday’s Gift

Aromatherapy – described as ‘the skilled use of specific essential oils extracted from the root, wood, leaf, seed, herb, fruit, or flower for physical, psychological, and esthetical purposes’. The use of essential oils is based on the theory that each scent operates at a unique frequency, affecting the body in different ways, creating calm, healing, and energizing effects.

The process – fragrant substances, as opposed to pungent, sharp odors like ammonia, pass into the limbic system (the most primitive part of the brain) without being registered by the cerebral cortex (conceived by the intellect rather than by emotions). In fact, it is via the olfactory brain that the cerebral cortex is able to be stimulated into energy and inspiration by a scent. The cerebral cortex is a much more recent addition to intellectual processing, developing much later than the ancient limbic system. Fragrant substances reach the innermost control centers of our brain, the place where fragrances ‘touch our heart’, so to speak.

Odor stimuli in the limbic system, or olfactory brain, release a number of psychoactive (brain affecting) chemicals, including encephalin (reduces pain and creates a feeling of well-being), endorphins (kills pain and induces sexual feelings), serotonin (helps relax and calm), and noradrenalin (helps keep you awake).

The sense of smell touches many of our subconscious perceptions, affecting sexuality, memory, creativity, moods, emotions, basic drives, and motivated behavior. It also helps balance our autonomic nervous system. Fragrance can therefore stimulate the center of our very being and create many associations that can inspire us deeply.